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Nicholls said on his Betfair blog: "Cliffs of Dover will miss the rest of the season after knocking a leg during a schooling session over hurdles just over a fortnight ago.

"I was hoping the injury would have cleared up by now but unfortunately it is a bit more serious than we first thought."

He added: "He will not be going to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle next month which is a shame because he has been a revelation since joining us in the summer with a mark of only 64 on the Flat."

Formerly with Charlie Hills on the Flat, Cliffs Of Dover has won six of his seven hurdles starts, including a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle on his most recent outing at Doncaster in December.

The regard in which Cliffs Of Dover is held by Nicholls was evident, as the trainer added: "He will have a nice long break now before he comes back into training in the autumn and we will aim to have him right for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton."